In a significant move to bolster Seattle’s artistic community, the Conru Art Foundation has unveiled a major $50 million initiative aimed at supporting artists and increasing public access to the arts.
At the heart of this initiative is the newly established ArtLove Salon, a spacious 16,000-square-foot exhibition and event venue set to open this week right across from the Seattle Art Museum.
Housed in the historic Poll Building, ArtLove Salon is envisioned as a community-centric space, offering free gallery exhibitions, zero-commission sales opportunities for artists, and complimentary rentals for nonprofit art organizations.
Funding for additional arts programming will be generated through corporate event rentals held at the venue.
“Our core conviction is that great art bridges divides, inspires joy, and can even offer healing,” shared Andrew Conru, the founder of the Conru Art Foundation.
He emphasized that ArtLove Salon aims to embody this philosophy through financial support for artists, curated exhibitions designed to evoke emotion and insight, and serve as a meeting place for all members of the community.
The Salon is set to officially welcome visitors on July 24, following a successful launch event connected to this year’s Seattle Art Fair. Admission to the venue will be free for all.
But the ArtLove Salon is just one piece of a much larger vision for the arts in Seattle. The foundation has acquired Pioneer Square’s Occidental Fine Arts Building, which is currently undergoing renovations to become the future home of Seattle Atelier.
This September, eight artists will begin a fully-funded, year-long residency there, known as the Seattle Prize. This ambitious program includes salaries, health insurance, studio space, and art supplies for the selected artists, whose work will also be displayed at ArtLove Salon.
These artists will focus on creating pieces that explore themes of beauty, truth, and human connection.
Future projects by the Conru Art Foundation include converting the old Lusty Lady building into a new downtown art museum by 2030. According to Conru, the building has already been acquired and plans are underway for its transformation.
“As it will take a few years to take shape, we’ve put the original marquee sign in storage and will replace it with a mural,” Conru detailed on the foundation’s website.
In addition to these projects, there are plans to expand the local arts publication PublicDisplay.ART and to create a $1 million World Cup Art competition in 2026, coinciding with FIFA World Cup matches hosted in Seattle.
According to Conru, “The ArtLove Salon embodies a Conru Art Foundation commitment to activating space as a service to Seattle, and simply to trying new things toward building up Seattle’s ecosystem for art.”
He expressed hope that the Salon will become a gathering place where individuals can connect and draw inspiration from the arts, stating that this initiative is merely the beginning of a broader arts movement.
Andrew Conru, an entrepreneur and philanthropist known for founding online dating giant Friend Finder Networks, remains dedicated to redirecting his wealth into public projects through the Conru Foundation and Conru Art Foundation.
Raised in a small Indiana farm and trained as an engineer at Stanford, Conru identifies as both an entrepreneur and an amateur artist aimed at enhancing the community through the arts.
As someone who has personally navigated the challenges of creative pursuits, the infrastructure being established by the Conru Art Foundation is invaluable for artists seeking affirmation in their work and a reminder of the worthiness of creativity.
This initiative stands to reinforce Seattle’s status as a leader in arts support, offering hope and resources to its artistic community.
image source from：seattlemag
